SirJo (aka Sergio Cocchi) A Biography
SirJo is a songwriter-singer-keyboardist-producer that’s hard to limit to a single style. Nevertheless everything he sings, writes and plays has a common matrix: Soul. That allows him to transmit great vibes to any audience, no matter their nationality or the kind of stage he’s playing or in which studio he’s recording. And that’s why Davey Ray Moor of Cousteau chose him as one of the featured singers for his solo project, Stellar Ray/Davey Ray Moor – Telepathy. Rolling Stone Magazine, in its four stars review, writes that SirJo “..seems Elvis Costello on a journey with Bacharach..” He’s been performing over the years as MD, keyboard player and vocalist with lots of soul artists from Memphis, Chicago and Atlanta in different european top festivals, getting an hands on experience of the essence of true Soul music.
“The moment I heard him...wow!!! I was instantly excited! He's amazing! He knows his stuff!! At one point, I closed my eyes to listen...and hearing him play and sing...there was no nationality, no color, just music...beautiful, funky, SOULFUL music!” Keisha Jackson - One Voice Entertainment, vocalist with Erykah Badu and Outkast, among others.
“SirJo is a jewel I've found on the Italian music scene. He sings with heart like a traditional soul singer and reminds me that there is still great talent to be found in the world.” Vaneese Thomas, soul singer and producer, part of the legendary Thomas / Stax legacy (father Rufus and sister Carla), currently performing with Aretha Franklin.
He’s just been featured on Giovanni Giorgi’s The Plug – Dawn (My Favorite Records-EMI), with DownBeat award winning trombonist Gianluca Petrella, and their unique mix of avant garde jazz, electronics and soulful vocal lines is making a big buzz on the european music scene. At the same time he was the featured vocalist on Zelig , the top TV prime time italian stand-up comedy show, for the whole 2010 season. All these experiences led to FOUNDA(C)TION: he’s the founding member and lead vocalist of this great band, formed by top italian players, where they mix soul with pop, funk, jazz and rock.
MO’Info on SirJo past Xperiences:
He’s raised in Milan where he starts playing clubs at 15. He moves to L.A. in ‘94 where he graduates with honors at Musicians Institute and has the chance to record and play with great jazz/fusion artists. Back in Italy he records two albums of original material with Soulspinner, and works with Folco Orselli, Reggae National Tickets (playin’ the Reggae Sunsplash Festival and in Trenchtown , Jamaica) and with Andy J. Forest, the great blues harmonica player from New Orleans. In the Big Easy he records and performs at the Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Meanwhile he writes and produces music for national radio and scores soundtracks for movies.
SirJo in his own words: "I just love music. Once back in Italy i started singing again. Actually i was kind of looking for somebody to sing some songs i had written, until somebody (THANK U!!) asked me: "Why don't you sing 'em yourself ??''. I had no answer to it, so i did! And now I love more & more to sing , compose, arrange, play & produce. Anykind of music for lots of different purposes and arts: It just has to be true & real, so that the message and the energy can come across clear. Of course, the whole process will hopefully be pleasing for those who listen, see, feel...as it is for me." |
